Sen. Ron Johnson Wants US Ground Troops To Invade Syria, Iraq

On Nov. 15, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin called for the U.S. to invade parts of Iraq and Syria, that are held by Islamic State group.

Johnson, who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, told PostCrescent.com in a phone interview:

"It’s high time that we make a commitment in the world that Islamic terrorists have got to be wiped off the face of the planet. Because if we don’t, every day that [Islamic State group] survives, every day that they are not overtly losing, they are perceived as winners and perceived as winning and they’ll continue to inspire adherents to this barbarity.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

Johnson wants an international coalition and U.S. ground troops to invade to "take back the territory."

“It’s not a perfect solution, but you have to start at the head: We’ve got to destroy the caliphate, which means we’ve got to take back the territory, because a caliphate does not exist without the territory,” Johnson added.

President Obama told a news conference on Nov. 15 that the U.S. would "degrade and ultimately destroy" the terrorist organization with airstrikes and the training of local troops, but would not use any ground troops, a position most Americans support.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Nov. 16, 76 percent of Americans oppose sending U.S. ground troops into the areas. The poll also found that 60 percent believe more should be done to stop Islamic State group, but 65 percent oppose the U.S. sending special forces, which Obama has already done.

Most Americans, 63 percent, believe an attack, similar to the kind that happened in Paris, could occur near them. Only 17 percent said terrorism was their biggest concern.

The poll also found that 52 percent believe that countries that accept Syrian refugees, who are fleeing terrorism, are less safe.